Machine for removing projecting tacks from the interior of boots and shoes



Sept. 4, 1928. 1,682,807

o. L. sMlrH MACHINE FR REMOVING PROJIC'lINCrv TACKS FROM THE INTERIOR 0FBOOTS AND SHOES Filed Jan. 13, 1926 Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRIN L. SMITH, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNOR T0 NITEI) SOElVlA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW' JERSEY, A CORPORATION OFJERSEY.

Mani-Irun son REMOVING rnoanorine 'racks Fnoivi frirninrnnion orl BoersAND sirens.

Application filed January This invention relates to machines forremoving tacks from the interior of boots and shoes.

ln the manufacture of most kindsof shoes tacks are employed to hold theupper, either temporarily or permanently, in lasted position, and inpractically all kinds of shoes the sole or insole is secured temporarilyto the last by tacks driven through the sole and into the last. Thesetacks, as well as the temporary lasting tacks, are supposed to beremoved before the shoe is completed but it occasionally happens,because of inadvertence or carelessnes or because the head portions ofthe tacks are broken off orcan not be seen, that the tacks or portionsthereof remain after a shoe is completed and project into the interiorof the shoe wherethey are a menace to the foot, for example, when theshoe is tried on, and, unless discovered and removed, may cause injuryto the foot or stocking.

Objects of this invention are to provide a machine by which such tacksmay be discovered readily and may be cut off and smoothed down flushwith the inner surface of the sole or insole.

Features of the invention consistinarotary cutting tool and a relativelystationary tack holding device constructed and arranged, as hereinexemplified, so that the shoe may be placed over them and any part ofthe interior of the shoe explored bymovement of the shoe j bottom overthe cutting tool and holding device. Contact of atack with any part ofthe illustrated device or tool indicates to the operator holding andmoving the shoeD the presence of the tack, and movement of the tack andshoe toward the device from any direction causes the holding device andcutting tool to cooperate to cut ed the projecting part of the tacksubstantially flush with the inside surface of the shoe bottom and tosmooth the cut oif tack. For this smoothing operation the cutting toolis preferably provided with cutting means distinct from the cuttingmeans by which the tack is cut off. Means is also provided in theillustrated construction for preventing injury to the inner `surface ofa shoe by the tack cutting devices.

This and other features ofthe invention will appear more fully from thefollowing detailed descriptionwhenread in connection 13, 19261 SerialNo. 81,006.

with the accompanying drawing and will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

' In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevation of bodying the present invention;

Fig. is a top View of the tack cutting mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the upper portion'of the machine shown inFig. l; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail showngka shoe and theaction ofthe cutter upon a A machine embodying the present invention isshown in Fig. l and comprises a col umn l()` supported on a suitablepedestal at a convenient height from the floor. On the back side of thecolumn l0 is a bracket 12 for supporting an electric motor 14. Thearmature shaft 16 of the motor is extended horizontally and providedwith bearings in the column and in the outer portion of an eirtension18. The front end of the shaft '16 may be provided with a rotary cutter2O for smoothing up the heel-seat on the interior of a machine emtheshoe such as is disclosedin United States Letters Patent No. 1,303,926,granted May 20, 1919, on application of B. T. Leveque. This cutter,however,forms no partof the present invention.

wardly, at a substantial forward inclination,

From the top of the column l0 extends upa tapering neck 22 in `which ismounted a 30 is a shaft 34 on the inner end of which is a gear 36meshing witha gear 37 on the shaft 24.

Fitting over the outer end of the` arm 30 Vis a sleeve 38 whichpreferably is formed integral with a circulai',`boX-like casing 40. Thesleeve 38 is held on the arm by'a screw 42. The casing 40 is providedwith a central boss Lletthrough which extends a screw 46 having next itshead a cylindrical portion which passes through the boss 44 `andthroughj a bevel gear 48 which meshes with a gear 50 tweenthe projections 52.

on the shaft 34. About the entire periphery of the box-like casing 40are formed projections 52 which are substantially triangular in shapeand form teeth between any two of which a tack may enter and, by contactwith which, the tack will be supportedV against lateral movement. Theouter faces of the projections 52 and the rim of the casing 40 arecounterbored toform a recess in which is fitted a rotary disk cutter 54.The cutter 54 rests upon the outer face of the gear 48 which face isflush with the bottom of the counterbore and is held to the gear forrotation therewith by dowel ins 56. `Since the outer faceof the gear 48is flush with the bottom of the counterbore in the projections 52, thelower peripheral margin of the cutter is inc'lose proximity to andsubstantially in contact Vwith the surfaces of theprojections or teeth52 at the bottom ot the counterbore;

that is, a running clearance onlyis provided.

between the cutter and the teeth. A tack resting against one ofthe teethis thus laterally supported close to the lower peripheral j margin ofthe cutter.

` The screw 46 Yhas a reduced extension 58 provided with a lefthandthread which is screwed into the cutter `until the shoulder between thecylindrical portion and `the threaded portion bears tightly against thecutter and the screw will rotate therewith, the length of thecylindrical portion of the screw being such that the gear 4S has treerunning contact with the boss 44. The margin of the cutter 54 extendsbeyond the casing 40 sothat it is exposed bethe disk 544 is providedwith cutting teeth 60 similar to those of a hack-saw. The margin of theouter face of the disk 54 is provided with teeth 62 extending radiallyof the disk, the depth of t-he teeth diminishing from the edge towardthe center. As illustrated, the

peripheral teeth and the marginal teeth coincide at the peripheryot thecutter; that is, the peripheral cutting teeth 60 are of the same sizeasthe outer ends of the mar inal smoothingv teethv 62. In the `center othe disk 54 isa convex nut 64 which may, it desired, be formed integralwith the cutter disk. T he faces of theprojections 52 are substantiall.Hush with the edges ofthe teeth 62 or slight y above them.`

' The construction has been sufficiently deesl scribed so that itsoperation can now be read- .ily explained, it being understood that theparts are so proportioned that a shoe of substantially any size may beplaced over the arm 30, the casing 40 beingsmall enough to enter the toeportion of a shoe of any usual size. The motor 14 will, throughthegearing described, rotate the disk 54, and the shoe may be movedaround over the disk with its sole `in contact with the upper faces ofthe projections 5.2and the convex surface of the nut 64. Amy tackprojecting from the shoe The periphery of nits way between two of theprojections 52,

this event being indicated to the operator by his sense of touch. Theoperator will then merely press u on the` shoe in the proper directionto holt the discovered tack against the peripheral teeth 60 of thecutter` which, due to its ra id rotation, will press the tack againstthe side of the adjacent projection or tooth 52 which extends beneathand in close proximity to the lower peripheral margin of the cutter andaflords lateral support for the tack close to the cutter. The cutterwill thus sever the tack close to the supported portion. Then, byallowing the shoe to move slightly toward the center of the cutter, thesevered end of the tack will engage the marginal teeth 62 of the cutterand will be reduced substantially flush vwith the shoe bottom. Theprojections 52, of course, prevent any part of the shoe except the j)rojectingr tack from coming in contact with the )eripheral teeth 60,and the upper surface otl the projections 52 and the convex surface ofthe nut 62 cause the surface ot the insole to bridge across the marginalteeth 62 of the cutter so that this cutter will not dig into or injurethe surface of the insole. Any object projecting slightly` from theinterior of the insole may, however, by pressure upon the exterior ofthe sole, be forced into contact with the marginal teeth 62 and reducedto a condition in which it is vflush with the remainder of the of a tackprojecting from the interior ot' a shoe to support a portion of the tackagainst movement transversely of the tack, and roapproximately Hushwith. the surface from which it projects and close to the Supportedportion.

2. In a machineof the class described, the

combination oi' means for engaging the sidel of' a tack projecting fromthe interior oi a shoe to support aportion ofthe tack against movementtransversely of the tack, and a rotary cutter acting` to push thetacktoward the supporting means andto sever thetack close to thesupportedportion of the tack.

3. In a mac inc ofthe class described, the combination of means forengaging a tack projecting from the interior of a shoe to support aportion of the tack spaced from thel shoe sole `against movementtransversely of the tack. and a rotary cutter having periph eral teethacting between the sole'and the supported portion of the tack to`severthe tack close to the'supported portion.

tar cutting nieansior severing the supported u tac r 4, In a. maqma@ efthe @ne described, the

combination ot means for engaging a` taek ing an opening and projectingfrointhe interior of a shoe to support the tack against movementtransversely of the tack, a rotary dish cutter having peripheral teethto sever the tack, andteeth formed on the margin of one face to smoothdown the end of the severed tack,

ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a casing havingpointed peripheral projections closely spaced to admit between them aprojecting tack, and a disk rotatable relatively to the casing and setinto the casing with its outer face substantially flush With thejnojections ofthe casing and having its edge projecting into the spacesbcttvcen the projections, said edge having pifiripheral teeth to engageand sever the taclt.

G. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a casinghaving peripheral i projections to admit between them a projecting tack,and a rotary, peripherally toothed dish set in the casing with its outerface substantially flush with the projections, the peripheral teethbeing exposed between the projections, the margin of the outer face ofthe disk having smoothing teeth to engage the taclr after it is severedbythe peripheral teeth.

i. l'n a machine of the class described, the cou'ibination of astationary casing having notches labout its entire periphery into Whicha taclr projecting from the inside of a shoe may be brought by movementof the shoe over the casing, a cutter projecting into the .spaces at thebottoms of the notches in position to engage and sever the tack close tothe surface from which it projects, and means for driving the cutter.

8. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a stationarycasing 'having notches about its periphery into which a tack projectingfrom the inside of a shoe may be broi'ight by movement of the shoe overthe casing, and a cutter projecting into the spaces at the bottoms ofthe notches in position to engage and sever the `tach close to thesurface from which it projects, the surface of the cutter' next to theshoe bottom. being exposed and provided With teeth to engage the severedtaclr and smooth it oit flush With the shoe bottom.

9. -in a machine of the class described, the combination oi a circularbozelilre casing havhaving proj ccting teeth about its peripherjadjacent to the opening, a circular cutter disposed with its centerclosing the opening and with its margin counter'- sunh into theprojecting teeth and extending into the space between them, the lowerperipheral margin of the cutter having a running clearance only withrespect to the projecting teeth, and gearing in the casing for drivingthe cutter.

l0. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a circularopen-topped bonlilrc casing having projectingr teeth about its peripheryadjacent to the opening, and a circular cutter disposed overthe openingwith its margin countersunt into the projecting teeth and ent-endinginto the space between having its margin provided with them and theouter face of the cutter beingi convex a nd teeth.

ing and having its edge projecting into the" spaces betweentheprojections, said edge hav ing peripheral teeth to engage and sever thetach presented between the projections, the projections serving toprevent engagement of the teeth with the surface from which the tacitprojects.

12. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a tiredcasing having pointed peripl'ieral projections closely spaced to admitbetween thema single projecting tach, and a rotary disk set in thecasing With its outer face substantially flush With the projections, themargin of the outer face of the disk having cutting teeth to engage thetack, said teeth being prevented from digging into the Work by theprojections.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a stationarycasing having closely spaced notches about its entire periphery into anyone of which an isolated tack projecting j brought by movement of the.shoe over the casing, a cutter projecting into the spaces at the bottomsof the notches in position to engage and sever the tack close to thesurface from which it projects, means to prevent the edge of the cutterfrom engaging said surface, and means for driving the cutter.

lit. In a machine for removing projecting portions of tacks from theinterior of shoes, the combination of a stationary member having pointedprojections about its entire periphery adapted to receive a tack betweenthem and over Which member a shoe may be placed and moved about toexplore the interior of a shoe to detect the presence of projectingtacks, said member being so constructed and arranged that contact of atack with any portion of the periphery of the member will indicate thepresence of a taclr to the operator, and cutting means associated withthe peripheral projections and movable relatively thereto to cause thetaci; to be severed when it is pressed against the cutting means by theoperator.

l5. In a machine for removing projecting portions of tacks from theinterior of shoes, the combination of a stationary member having pointedperipheral. projections adapted to receive a tack between them overwhich ll. In a machineof the class described, the

from the inside of a shoe may be a tack to the operator, and rotarycutting means countersunk into the shocengaging faces of theprojections, exposed between them and acting to sever the tack when itis presented to the exposed portion of the cutterby movementof the shoe.f

16. In a machine for removing projecting portions of tacks from theinterlor of shoes, the combination of a stationary member over which ashoe may be placed and moved about to explore the interior of a shoe todetect the presence of projectingtacks, said member having numerouspointed projections on its periphery with notches between them, contactof a tack with any one of the notches ndicating the presence of a tackto the operator, and rotary toothed cutting means associated with theperipheral projections en-` posed in the notches between them andmovable relatively to thel projections with its manso? lower peripheralmargin in close proximity to the projections to cause the tack to besevered when pressed against it by the operator 17. In a machine forremoving pro'ecting portions of tacks from the interior o shoes, thecombination of a stationary member over which a shoe may be placed andmovable to explore the interior of the shoe to detect the presence oftacks, said member being provided With projections having notchesbetween them, contact of a tack with a projection on the memberindicating the presence of the tack to the operator, and rotary cuttingrmeans countersunk' into the soleengaging faces of the ro'ections so thatits outer face is substantially flush therewith and its lower peripheralmargin is in close proximity to upper surfaces of the projections, theedge of the cutting means being exposed between the projections andacting to sever the tack when it is presented thereto by move- `ment ofthe shoe.

oRIN L. SMITH.

